Jessica Harrington | Horse Racing Free Tips

Alpha Centauri’s Sister Discoveries Wins The Moyglare

The Curragh's G2 Debutante S. is always a key pointer to the course-and-distance G1 Moyglare Stud S. and Sunday proved no exception as the one-two-three again filled those places headed by the Niarchos Family's Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). Only third to Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) in that seven-furlong precedent Aug. 21, the Jessica Harrington trainee has abundant room for improvement within as a full-sister to Alpha Centauri (Ire) and half to Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) and was able to turn that around on this slicker surface. Sent up to track Agartha closely from the outset, Shane Foley never allowed that leader more than 1 1/2 lengths margin and when the pressure was applied the 17-2 shot overhauled her passing the furlong pole en route to a 3/4-of-a-length success. There was a further two lengths back to the Debutante runner-up Sunset Shiraz (Ire) (Time Test {GB}) in third, with the well-supported 85-40 favourite Cairde Go Deo (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) dropping out to finish sixth. Harrington, whose No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}) kicked off a Saturday Leopardstown treble for the stable in the G1 Matron S., was not surprised by the turnaround. “The ground was soft for the Debutante and we knew that like her sister she will only go on quick,” she explained. “This is lovely fast ground with lots of grass and that made the difference, plus maybe the three weeks in between which allowed her to strengthen up and come forward. We thought she'd improve with better ground and she'd done a good bit of work earlier in the week.”

Discoveries followed a debut fourth in a Leopardstown maiden over this trip June 3 with a short-head defeat of Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Ballydoyle's full-sister to the Classic heroines Minding (Ire) and Empress Josephine (Ire), at this venue June 25. Showing steady progression with each outing, she was in front of the country's leading fillies to have raced so far here and for now has the bragging rights having taken this “win-and-you're-in” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup. Her trainer admits she has no firm schedule for the remainder of 2021. “I don't know where we go, as today was the plan,” she said.

“She's a lovely, lovely filly and is completely different to Alpha Centauri, who was a big grey filly. This filly was not as big, but she has done a lot of growing,” Harrington added. “She has a lovely temperament and is not as feisty as Alpha. Alpine Star looked completely different again. She was long and low, not very big. This is what we work towards and to have two group 1 winners this weekend is amazing. She will definitely step up to a mile in time. We never got the chance to step Alpha Centauri beyond a mile, but we might have done had she not been injured.”

Discoveries is already ahead of Alpha Centauri at this juncture of their careers, with that G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Coronation S., G1 Falmouth S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois heroine finishing only fifth in this four years ago. While Alpine Star took the Debutante as a 2-year-old, she missed this race with her next race after that being the G1 Coronation S. which she duly won before finishing second in the Jacques le Marois, the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix de l'Opera. The dam Alpha Lupi (Ire) (Rahy), whose son Tenth Star (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) was the Listed Golden Fleece S. scorer who was also placed in the G2 Royal Lodge S. and G3 Tyros S., is a daughter of another Jacques le Marois heroine in East of the Moon (Private Account). She also completed the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches-G1 Prix de Diane double and is a daughter of the Niarchos luminary Miesque (Nureyev). This is the esteemed family of Kingmambo, another Moyglare Stud S. heroine in Rumplestiltskin (Ire) (Danehill), Tapestry (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Study of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Karakontie (Jpn) (Bernstein). Alpha Lupi's yearling is a full-brother to Discoveries and Alpha Centauri, while she also has a colt foal by Magna Grecia (Ire).

Sunday, The Curragh, Ireland
MOYGLARE STUD S.-G1, €336,000, Curragh, 9-12, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:27.10, gd.
1–DISCOVERIES (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Mastercraftsman (Ire)
1st Dam: Alpha Lupi (Ire), by Rahy
2nd Dam: East of the Moon, by Private Account
3rd Dam: Miesque, by Nureyev
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN, 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-The Niarchos Family (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington; J-Shane Foley. €180,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $235,553. *Full to Alpha Centauri (Ire), Hwt. 3yo-Eng at 7-9 1/2f, Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 7-9 1/2f, Hwt. 3yo-Fr at 7-9 1/2f, Hwt. 3yo-Ire at 7-9 1/2f, G1SW-Fr, G1SW-Ire, MG1SW-Eng, $1,639,990; 1/2 to Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}), G1SW-Eng, GSW-Ire, MG1SP-Fr, $734,558; 1/2 to Tenth Star (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), SW & GSP-Ire, GSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Agartha (Ire), 128, f, 2, Caravaggio–Arya Tara (Ire) (SW & GSP-Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire). O-Scott C Heider; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €60,000.
3–Sunset Shiraz (Ire), 128, f, 2, Time Test (GB)–Sunny Again (GB), by Shirocco (Ger). (£100,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-Lindsay Laroche; B-Mount Coote Estates (IRE); T-Gavin Cromwell. €30,000.
Margins: 3/4, 2, 1. Odds: 8.50, 3.30, 12.00.
Also Ran: Concert Hall (Ire), Homeless Songs (Ire), Cairde Go Deo (Fr), Prettiest, Missing Matron (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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St. Mark’s Basilica Earns BC Turf Berth With Irish Champion Stakes Win

Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Michael Tabor's St Mark's Basilica (FR) was an impressive winner of a thrilling Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes, and earned an automatic berth into the $4 million Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 84 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California on Nov. 5-6.

The Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes was one of three Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races to take place at Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin, Ireland today, alongside the Group 1 Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes and Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes (G2).

The Aidan O'Brien-trained St Mark's Basilica (FR) showed his brilliance when defeating 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf champion Tarnawa (IRE) and dual Group 1 winner Poetic Flare (IRE).

Winner of the Group 1 French 2000 Guineas, the Group 1 French Derby, and Group 1 Coral-Eclipse earlier this summer, the 3-year-old extended his unbeaten record this season and captured his fifth Group 1 success.

Patrick Sarsfield (FR), the outsider of the four-runner field, made the running until inside the final quarter-mile when the three Group 1 winners then struck for home. A tactical contest, St Mark's Basilica (FR) drifted right in the closing stages, taking Tarnawa (IRE) with him across the track, but the Ballydoyle stable star secured his victory by three-quarters of a length in the hands of Ryan Moore. On his first start over 10 furlongs, Poetic Flare (IRE) finished a nose behind Tarnawa (IRE) in third. A stewards' inquiry was called following the race but the results remained unchanged.

“It was great because it was tactical,” said winning trainer Aidan O'Brien. “They sprinted up the straight and he did well. One thing we know he does is quicken. He really quickens. His strong qualities are that he relaxes and can really turn it on. He has done that in every race.”

No decision has been taken over where St Mark's Basilica (IRE) will race next.

A son of Siyouni (FR) out of the Galileo (IRE) mare Cabaret (IRE), St Mark's Basilica (IRE) completed the 1 ¼ miles in 2:11.19 on a course rated as good.

No Speak Alexander Conquers in Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes

Charles O'Callaghan, Noel O'Callaghan, and Paul O'Callaghan's No Speak Alexander (IRE) was back to her best in a dramatic renewal of the G1 Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes. The victory securing the filly an automatic entry into the $2 million Grade 1 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Trained by Jessica Harrington and ridden by Shane Foley, No Speak Alexander (IRE) crossed a neck in front of Pearls Galore (IRE) in a tight finish and survived a stewards' inquiry to secure the 1-mile contest. Mother Earth (IRE), winner of the Group 1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas and Group 1 Prix Rothschild, suffered a luckless run to finish third under jockey Ryan Moore.

A 3-year-old daughter by Shalaa (IRE) out of the Dandy Man (IRE) mare Rapacity Alexander (IRE), No Speak Alexander (IRE) completed the contest in 1:41.98.

Winning trainer Harrington said: “That was absolutely fantastic. After she was third in the Irish [1000] Guineas [G1], we wanted to go the Group 1 route. We thought we'd go to Ascot, that didn't happen, and then we thought we'd go for the Falmouth, and that didn't happen either. We took her to France [10th in Prix Rothschild-G1] and she got very badly interfered with a furlong down, so it was a no race. We've ended up coming here and thank goodness we've got the result.”

Atomic Jones wins the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes

The Ger Lyons-trained Atomic Jones (FR) powered home from the back of the field to win the G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes by a head in good style. The winner earning an automatic berth into this year's $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

Settled near the rear of the 10-runner field under jockey Colin Keane, Atomic Jones struck for the line late to secure the victory by a head, with joint favorite Stone Age (IRE) finishing in second, and Absolute Ruler (USA) in third.

Atomic Jones, a son of Wootton Bassett (GB), completed the 1-mile contest in 1:42.75.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for all three winners to start at Del Mar. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance of $40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.

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Shalaa’s No Speak Alexander Springs 25-1 Matron Upset

Jessica Harrington trainee No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}) came back off a break to finish 10th behind the reopposing G1 1000 Guineas heroine Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in last month's G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville and stepped forward to shock a stellar field in Saturday's G1 Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron S. at Leopardstown. She had previously backed up a solid five-race juvenile campaign to snag The Curragh's May 3 Athasi S. on seasonal return and hit the board back there in the May 23 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas in her penultimate start. The 25-1 outsider was positioned along the rail in a forward third after the initial exchanges of the one-mile test. Scrubbed along at the top of the straight, she was ridden to the fore entering the final furlong and kept on in resolute fashion to hold the persistent threat of Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) by a neck for a career high. Coolmore's G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Prix Rothschild heroine Mother Earth endured a nightmare passage in the straight and was allowed to coast home in the closing stages to finish 1 1/4 lengths back in third.

“I was worried because I could see a bit of interference, but we ended up keeping the race and, to me, that's the main thing,” commented Jessica Harrington. “After the Irish [1000] Guineas, we wanted to go the Group 1 route and we thought we'd go to [Royal] Ascot [for the G1 Coronation S.], but that didn't happen. We then thought we'd go for the [G1] Falmouth S. [at Newmarket] and that didn't happen. We took her to France, but she got very badly interfered with a furlong down and that was a no race for her. We ended up coming here and, thank goodness, we got the result. She's now a Group 1 winner, which is absolutely fantastic. She's a beautifully bred filly, it's lovely for all the O'Callaghans and she'll be a big asset to their stud. Her best form is with a bit of cut, but it's beautiful ground out there with a lovely covering of grass. It's totally fair ground for anyone and, if she can win on it, any horse can win on it.”

No Speak Alexander, who becomes the first top-level winner for her second-crop sire (by Invincible Spirit), is the first foal out of Listed Prix La Fleche victrix Rapacity Alexander (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), herself a full-sister to G1 Hong Kong Sprint victor Peniaphobia (Ire). The April-foaled bay is a half to the twice-placed 2-year-old filly Making Music (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). No Speak Alexander's fourth dam Quiet Harbour (Ire) (Mill Reef) is the dam of Listed Prix Right Royal victrix and stakes producer Cutting Reef (Ire) (Kris {GB}), the stakes-winning Jazz Ballet (Ire) (Jaazeiro) and G3 Premio Ambrosiano placegetter Guest Harbour (Ire) (Be My Guest). Guest Harbour, herself the dam of G1 Gran Premio di Milano hero Benvenue (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), is kin to five stakes winners headed by G1 Coronation Cup hero Quiet Fling (Nijinsky), whose full-sister De Stael produced four black-type winners headed by MGISW GI Matriarch S. heroine Wandesta (GB) (Nashwan).

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
COOLMORE AMERICA 'JUSTIFY' MATRON S.-G1, €300,000, Leopardstown, 9-11, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:41.98, gd.
1–NO SPEAK ALEXANDER (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Shalaa (Ire)
1st Dam: Rapacity Alexander (Ire) (SW-Fr), by Dandy Man (Ire)
2nd Dam: Umlani (Ire), by Great Commotion
3rd Dam: Travel Magic (Ire), by Henbit
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€190,000 RNA Ylg '19 GOFOR). O-Charles O'Callaghan, Noel O'Callaghan & Paul O'Callaghan; B-Mount Armstrong Stud (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington; J-Shane Foley. €180,000. Lifetime Record: 9-3-1-1, $346,893. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Pearls Galore (Fr), 133, f, 4, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Pearl Banks (GB), by Pivotal (GB). O/B-SCEA Haras de Saint Pair (FR); T-Paddy Twomey. €60,000.
3–Mother Earth (Ire), 128, f, 3, Zoffany (Ire)–Many Colours (GB), by Green Desert. (€150,000 Ylg '19 GOFOR). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Grenane House Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €30,000.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 25.00, 7.00, 1.20.
Also Ran: Empress Josephine (Ire), Epona Plays (Ire), Champers Elysees (Ire), Acanella (GB), Belle Image (Ire), Pretty Gorgeous (Fr), Dreamloper (Ire), Shale (Ire), Flirting Bridge (Ire), Friendly (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Jessica Harrington Fined €2K Over Galway Debacle

Trainer Jessica Harrington has been fined €2,000 after the incorrect horse was saddled and won a 2-year-old maiden at the Galway Festival. Harrington's Alizarine (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) appeared to win the Colm Quinn BMW Irish EBF Fillies Maiden on debut July 27. Instead, it was discovered that the Harrington-trained 3-year-old Aurora Princess (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}) had run instead. The latter was marked a non-runner in a handicap race later on the card and the race was instead awarded to Twinkle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). After calling the incident “human error” Harrington issued an apology and accepted responsibility for the mixup before the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board.

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